Ex Juventus winger retires and says he wants to be like Erik ten Hag

Add as preferred source on Google

Erik ten Hag is the inspirational manager leading Manchester United’s revival, who won his first trophy for the club earlier this week.

Two players left Ajax last summer to follow Ten Hag to Old Trafford, and it is easy to see why Antony and Lisandro Martinez were so desperate to join him.

It seems as though everywhere Ten Hag goes, he leaves a positive mark on those he interacts with.

Take the latest comments from former Juventus, Southampton and Feyenoord winger Eljero Elia.

• READ: Five things we learned as Manchester United win the Carabao Cup

Ten Hag an inspiration

Eljero Elia has recently hung up his boots. The 36-year-old was previously under contract to Ado Den Haag, before becoming a free agent.

He explained via RTV Rijnmond: “I broke my ankle and then I went from training every day to doing nothing at all.”

Now he is doing a coaching internship at Feyenoord, doing his UEFA badges and working with the youth team.

The 30-time capped Netherlands international worked with Erik ten Hag at FC Twente early in his career, and he has not forgotten the current Manchester United boss.

Ten Hag was an assistant at the time, and left an impression on Elia, who says while he does not know if he wants to become a manager, he wants to have the same inter-personal skills as the Red Devils boss.

Elia explained: “Erik ten Hag was a perfect assistant coach for me. Also besides football. Mentally and humanly he taught me a lot that I still use a lot to this day. And that will always stay with me.

“I I hope that I can also be such a person, with an exemplary role for players in that area.”

Erik ten Hag’s human touch was praised at Ajax and it has been evident in his opening months at Manchester United.

He showed real class with the way he handled Jadon Sancho’s situation earlier in the season, showing patience with the winger requiring time out to work on his fitness and also be mentally ready to return.

Ten Hag’s players clearly enjoy working with him, and fighting for the cause. That’s because he is willing to fight for them, and shows his personal side when required too.

More than a decade since Elia worked with him, Ten Hag is still his inspiration. Quite a few Manchester United players are likely to feel the same way in years to come.